Dubai Pardons Brits Jailed Over Drug Offences

Three Britons who claimed they were tortured after they were arrested over drug offences in Dubai have been pardoned, according to campaign group Reprieve.

Grant Cameron, 25, Suneet Jeerh, 25, and Karl Williams, 26, all from London, were each jailed for four years for possessing synthetic cannabis after being arrested in Dubai in July last year while on holiday.

The men, who denied any wrongdoing, claimed they had signed documents in Arabic, a language none of them understands, following their arrests after they were threatened with guns to their heads.

Dubai police denied the claims.

The Britons were pardoned by authorities under a United Arab Emirates amnesty.

Although the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it would not discuss details of specific cases, a spokesman said: "We are aware that the 2013 amnesty list has been announced in the United Arab Emirates and that the local authorities have begun the process of releasing those included.

"We understand that if there is deportation involved, British nationals will be deported back to the UK.

David Cameron discussed the case with Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Sky News understands Jeerh and Cameron have already arrived back in Britain while Williams is awaiting deportation.

In May, Prime Minister David Cameron raised the case with Emirati president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and talks have been continuing through other official channels.

Grant Cameron is said to have already returned to the UK.

Reprieve investigator Kate Higham said: "After everything Grant has been through, his release is welcome but long overdue.

"No one should have to go through what he experienced, and we are glad that he is safely back home. We hope the same will soon be true of his friends Karl and Suneet."

Mr Cameron's mother, Tracy Cameron, said: "After a year of waiting, we are deeply relieved and overjoyed to have Grant back home with us after his terrible ordeal."

She also thanked everyone "who has helped support Grant and his friends".

16.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Heatwave Causing Rise In Child Sunburn Cases

Hospitals across the UK say they have seen a rise in the number of severe sunburn cases among children, as Britain continues to bask in its longest heatwave for seven years.

Of the 14 hospitals with specialist burns units contacted by Sky News, almost two-thirds said they had seen a rise in the number of admissions.

A four-month-old baby was among 10 children admitted to the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, West Sussex.

With the hot spell expected to continue well into next week, doctors have warned that prolonged unprotected exposure to the sun could have fatal consequences.

London's Marble Arch fountains provided a respite from the hot weather

Dr David Lloyd said: "We know that children who burn their skin when they are under the age of 12 are much more likely to end up with skin cancer later on in their lives."

The heatwave is believed to have caused up to 760 premature deaths across the country.

Elderly residents are among the most vulnerable, with the British Red Cross opening two call centres in eastern England to ensure patients recently discharged from hospital are coping with the heat.

It comes after the Met Office issued a level three health watch for the South West, the West Midlands and the North West, requiring social and healthcare services to implement specific measures to protect high-risk groups.

Graham Bickler, of the Health Protection Agency, said: "There is considerable evidence that heatwaves are dangerous and can kill.

"In the 2003 heatwave there were 2,000 to 3,000 excess deaths in England. Across Europe, there were round 30,000 excess deaths."

The NHS urged people to consider staying out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, to take cool baths or showers and to drink cold drinks rather than tea, coffee or alcohol.

"Most of the information is common sense," Mr Bickler said. "It's not rocket science but it can have a dramatic effect."

A firefighter tackles a wildfire in southeast England

Meanwhile, fire crews in London say they are dealing with twice as many grass fires this summer compared to last year.

More than 120 firefighters were called to one blaze on Wanstead Flats, near Stratford.

Elsewhere, wildfires tore through the south Wales valleys while flames devastated swathes of Tentsmuir Forest in Fife, Scotland.

Temperatures - which reached 32.2C in London on Wednesday - are expected to be slightly cooler this weekend.

Sky News weather presenter Sarah Pennock said temperatures "will be a touch cooler today for many, particularly across eastern England", although western Scotland will be hotter.

Forecasters say the mercury could climb to around 33C next week, with 35C possible in some places.

However, temperatures - which reached a 2013 high of 32.2C in London on Wednesday - are unlikely to top the high of 36.5C recorded in Surrey in July 2006.

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Woolwich Suspect 'Attack': Prison Staff Suspended

Five prison officers have been suspended following allegations that Woolwich murder suspect Michael Adebolajo was assaulted at one of Britain's top-security jails.

Adebolajo, 28, who is accused of killing soldier Lee Rigby, reportedly lost two teeth as he was being restrained at Belmarsh prison in southeast London on Wednesday.

The Prison Service has refused to comment on the detail of what happened, but the Met Police confirmed it was investigating an allegation of assault.

During an investigation of this kind, the suspension of staff is standard practice, the Ministry of Justice said.

Adebolajo is in Belmarsh Prison awaiting trial for the murder of Lee Rigby

The Prison Officers Association (POA) has denied any wrongdoing by the officers and said its members would challenge the allegations made by the prisoner.

"We are aware of an incident that took place on Wednesday July 17, which involved a prisoner being subjected to restraint using approved techniques called Control and Restraint," it said in a statement.

"Our members strenuously deny any wrongdoing and the POA will be supporting them legally and emotionally during this difficult time.

"The use of restraint is only used where necessary when dealing with incidents up and down the country."

It said it will fully co-operate with any police investigation, and expects the officers to be "fully exonerated".

The prison officers' trade union also accused the Ministry of Justice of not doing enough to avoid what they described as "sensationalist reporting" of the alleged assault.

Adebolajo is accused together with Michael Adebowale, 22, of hacking Drummer Rigby to death near Woolwich Barracks in southeast London on May 22.

The pair are due to stand trial at the Old Bailey on November 18.

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Dreamliner Turns Back After Fuel Pump Warning

A Boeing 787 Dreamliner has been forced to return to an airport in the United States because of a possible fuel pump problem.

The Japan Airlines flight from Boston to Tokyo turned back as a "standard precautionary measure" around five hours after taking off, according to a company spokeswoman.

Pilots landed the plane safely after a maintenance warning indicated a possible fault.

Japan Airlines only resumed its 787 operations in June, five months after a battery caught fire on board one of the planes in its fleet.

At the time, company president Yoshiharu Ueki said he would "ensure safety, security and reliability in operations of every aircraft in the group's fleet".

The Dreamliner has been beset by glitches since its first commercial flight in October 2011.

The aircraft was grounded worldwide in January after batteries overheated on two Japanese-operated jets.

Damage caused to an Ethiopian Airlines 787 following a fire at Heathrow

It resumed commercial service in May after Boeing installed a redesigned battery system.

However in June, a 787 operated by United Airlines was forced to make an emergency landing because of an issue with its braking system.

Days later, another of the company's fleet landed safely when pilots became aware of a potential oil filter problem.

Meanwhile, a fire on an Ethiopian Airlines 787 that caused major disruption at Heathrow Airport earlier this month is believed to have started in the battery of an emergency locator transmitter.

A report from the UK's Air Accident Investigation Branch said that if a similar fault occurred mid-flight, "it could pose a significant safety concern and raise challenges for the cabin crew in tackling the resulting fire".

British Airways and TUI Travel have both taken delivery of Dreamliners this year, while Virgin Atlantic is awaiting the arrival of 16 of the planes.

More than 900 787s have been ordered worldwide since 2004.

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Boston Bomb Suspect: Police Photos Released

Photos showing the moment the Boston Marathon bomb suspect was captured have been released by a police photographer angry at a magazine for "glamorising" the alleged attacker.

Massachusetts State Police tactical photographer Sergeant Sean Murphy took the pictures of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev as the 19-year-old crawled out from beneath the cover of a boat four days after the blasts.

One of the photos shows him with a bloodied face and hand, with the red dot of a police sniper's rifle laser sight on his forehead.

Sgt Murphy released the image after a portrait of Tsarnaev appeared on the front cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

The photographer claims his pictures, which were published in Boston Magazine, show the "real Boston bomber, not someone fluffed and buffed".

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev took the photo which appeared on the magazine himself

"The truth is that glamorising the face of terror is not just insulting to the family members of those killed in the line of duty, it also could be an incentive to those who may be unstable to do something to get their face on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine," he told the publication.

A state police spokesman said Sgt Murphy had not been authorised to release the photographs he took of Tsarnaev.

He said the images would not be handed out to other media organisations.

Boston Magazine reported the officer had been "relieved of duty" and was ordered to attend a hearing next week.

The explosions killed three people, including a young boy

Three people died and hundreds more were injured when two pressure cooker bombs exploded close to the finish line of the Boston Marathon in April.

Earlier this month, Tsarnaev pleaded not guilty to 30 charges, including the use of weapons of mass destruction.

His brother Tamerlan, who allegedly helped commit the attack, died during the manhunt for the pair.

Meanwhile, the editors of Rolling Stone added a statement to the online version of their article about Tsarnaev in which they said: "Our hearts go out to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings and our thoughts are always with them and their families.

"The cover story we are publishing this week falls within the traditions of journalism and Rolling Stone's long-standing commitment to serious and thoughtful coverage of the most important political and cultural issues of our day.

"The fact that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is young, and in the same age group as many of our readers, makes it all the more important for us to examine the complexities of this issue and gain a more complete understanding of how a tragedy like this happens."

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2012 Olympics Have Given UK A £10bn Boost

By Paul Kelso, Sports Correspondent

The UK economy has received a massive trade and investment boost from the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to a new report.

It is the result of firms securing new contracts (£1.5bn), additional export sales (£5.9bn) and new foreign investment (£2.5bn), the report said.

The latter includes the redevelopment of London's Battersea Power Station by a Malaysian consortium and projects involving the Chinese technology company Huawei.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "This £9.9bn boost to the UK economy is a reminder to the world that, if you want the best, if you want professionalism, if you want jobs done on time and on budget then you should think British.

"With companies across the country we are harnessing the Olympic momentum and delivering the lasting business legacy of the Games that will help make Britain a winner in the global race.

"But that's not where the good news ends. The Games are also delivering a strong social legacy.

The success of UK athletes has not had a dramatic effect on participation

"Last summer, Games Makers changed the way Britain views volunteering. Since then, thousands of people have been inspired to get involved with their local sports clubs."

Research carried out for the Government suggests that over the long term the total benefit could reach up to £41bn by 2020.

But a poll conducted exclusively for Sky News suggests a lasting legacy for sport and volunteering is proving harder to achieve.

The poll found that while more than half of respondents believe the Games delivered on their promise to "inspire a generation", the vast majority were unmoved to take up a new sport or commit to volunteering.

Asked if London 2012 had inspired them to take up a new sport or recreation activity, 88% said it had not.

With four golds, David Weir was one of Britain's star performers

Among existing participants there was also very little impact, with 80% of those asked saying the Olympics had not prompted them to do more sport.

Among volunteers there was a similar picture, with 89% of respondents saying they had not increased the amount of time they gave as a result of the Olympic example.

Just 6% said they had done more and 3% said they had done less.

While the results challenge the notion that the Olympics could transform behaviour, they do offer some comfort to organisers of what was otherwise a hugely successful Olympics.

Among 16 to 18-year-olds, responses were more positive, with 20% saying they had tried a new sport, 31% saying they had done more sport and 21% saying they had spent more time volunteering.

The Aquatics Centre may encourgage the public when it opens next year

The poll also revealed mixed attitudes to the Games one year on.

Asked if the Olympics were value for the near £9bn spent on staging them, 41% of people said they were good or very good value for money, while 30% felt they were not worth the investment.

As to whether Britain should stage the Games again the poll revealed a split, with 40% in favour and the same percentage opposed to repeating the 2012 experiment.

Lord Coe says he believes more young people are now playing sport

Despite these findings, key figures in the Olympic project insist that the Games are delivering on the legacy promises.

Lord Sebastian Coe, chairman of the organising committee and now the Prime Minister's legacy ambassador, told Sky News: "I think in large part we have inspired.

"Look at waiting lists in sports clubs, they are both optimistic and challenging, but I think there are more people playing sport, and a good chunk of them are young people."

Lord Coe said his experience was that the appetite was particularly keen in schools.

"I've spent a lot of time in the last year, particularly with my legacy work in schools, in primary schools, secondary schools and even in colleges.

"And there's no doubt at all that PE teachers - and certainly teachers - that did not get sport up until the Games recognise that there is a very powerful momentum and that young people want more sport and so do their parents."

Sports minister Hugh Robertson said participation was growing, citing Sport England figures that show 1.4 million more people doing sport at least once a week than before London successfully bid for the Games.

"The legacy is undoubtedly genuine," said Mr Robertson.

"More people are playing sport now than when we started on the Olympic journey, but this was never ever going to be one smooth uphill journey.

"I am delighted to say that for the first time, with stability of funding and the same policies in place year after year after year, we are beginning to see the participation dividend that we all looked for at the time of the bid."

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A&E Admissions Rise In Britain's 30C Heatwave

Hospitals have reported a rise in A&E admissions as Britain's 30C heatwave continues.

Doctors at North Middlesex University Hospital said they have treated people for severe dehydration, heatstroke and breathing difficulties.

In Plymouth, the Derriford Hospital urged people to take extra care after heat-related admissions soared.

A Level Three health warning has been put in place by the Met Office in London, the South East, the West Midlands, and the South West due to the unusually high temperatures.

Public Health England advised people to stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, store medicines in the fridge and keep an eye on elderly neighbours.

Crowds of people have headed to the beach in the hot weather

The aged, the very young, and those with respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, are among those most at risk.

"The risk of death and risk of illness really concerns us," Professor Virginia Murray, head of extreme events and health protection at Public Health England (PHE), said.

"Those with pre-existing illnesses are at much greater risk of not being able to cope with heat. It's much harder for them to cope with cooling."

She warned that those with breathing difficulties could find themselves struggling to regulate their temperature, while those with heart problems were more likely to suffer a heart attack.

As part of the heatwave plan in the South East, high-risk people are being contacted by hospitals.

Health experts have estimated that hundreds may have died already as a result of the heatwave.

The death toll for the first nine days of the heatwave is between 540 and 760 people in England alone, according to the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

If the hot weather continues until the end of next week, as many predict, the number could rise substantially.

The figures were produced by using temperature data supplied by the Met Office and comparing it with studies conducted on death rates during previous heatwaves in Britain.

Ben Armstrong, a professor in epidemiological statistics at LSHTM, said risk increases at temperatures above 26C.

"A lot of evidence has been pulled together that the risk in London, for instance, is greatest when it is above 32C in the day and above 18C at night," he said.

On Wednesday, temperatures in London reached 32C (89F), the hottest day of the year so far.

On Call Clegg the Deputy Prime Minister said that temperatures on London transport were brutally hot, after being told the temperature on a Northern Line tube had hit 35C.

He said: "Other countries are used to very hot summers, we are not ready for this. 35 degrees is pretty brutal and you need to be careful, particularly if you're frail.

"My small kids don't realise when they're overheating. I was padding around in the office wearing no shoes yesterday, and I am relaxed about staff not overheating in my private office - providing they're not engaging in public facing tasks."

Extreme heat can lead to heatstroke, in which the body is unable to stay cool - leading to brain damage and death.

Temperatures are considered significant if they are high relative to the normal temperature for that area.

During the summer of 2003, there were 2,000 excess deaths in Britain.

16.09 | 0 komentar | Read More

New Crime Stats Show Lowest Total On Record

There were 8.6 million crimes in England and Wales up to March 2013, the lowest figure since the official survey began in 1981.

It was a 9% decrease compared with last year, the latest crime figures show.

Overall crime is now running at half the level it peaked at in 1995.

But in these times of financial hardship for many, fraud is up by 27%, with over a quarter of a million offences recorded.

The number of rapes recorded by police has risen by 2% in the past year, with the increase thought to be linked to the knock-on effect of the high-profile Jimmy Savile investigation, the Office for National Statistics said.

Firearm offences have fallen by 15% in year ending March 2013, continuing to fall since a peak registered in 2005/2006.

Offences that involved knife or sharp instrument decreased by 15% compared to previous year.

Sky News Deputy Political Editor Joey Jones said the figures are good news the Government.

"From David Cameron's point of view, he'll be wanting to press home that sort of political advantage. As long as long as those statistics keep coming along those lines, it clearly makes things that much more comfortable from the Government's point of view."

More follows...

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NHS Patients Urged To Be Hospital Inspectors

Patients are being urged to join a "small army" of inspectors to check NHS hospitals.

The new Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Professor Sir Mike Richard, has announced ways to radically change how hospitals in England are assessed.

In his first media conference since taking the Care Quality Commission (CQC) job, Sir Mike called on people "from different walks of life" to help the watchdog inspect facilities.

His beefed-up inspection teams - made up of patients, doctors, nurses and other professionals - will give all hospitals school-style ratings.

"Today I am issuing a call for inspectors. I want assistance in this inspection process," Sir Mike said.

"I want to start building a small army of inspectors.

Sir Mike admitted the CQC had "flawed" inspections in the past

"These inspectors need to come from different walks of life, some of them will be practising clinicians who will come and do two or three inspections a year, some others will be retired clinicians, but importantly we are also seeking patients and carers and we will provide training.

"We will assess whether services are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led."

Sir Mike said each of the 161 acute hospital trusts would be rated as "outstanding", "good", "requires improvement" or "inadequate".

If they are deemed to be inadequate they could be put into "special measures" - as seen earlier this week with 11 hospital trusts which were reviewed for having higher mortality rates.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said it was "worrying" that the CQC failed to spot any real cause for concern at the 11 trusts.

Sir Mike admitted the embattled regulator had "flawed" inspections in the past.

"If we thought that the CQC process in the past had been perfect we wouldn't be changing it," Sir Mike said.

"We are changing it because we recognise that it was flawed."

Sir Mike said the bigger inspection teams would spend longer examining the hospitals with a mixture of announced and unannounced inspections.

However, he said the surprise inspections would probably occur after the announced ones - which raises concerns that failing trusts could prepare for inspections.

Simon Whittle went to an NHS hospital with a broken leg and ended up having much of his leg amputated .

Mr Hunt said CQC's assessment of the 11 trusts was "worrying"

He told Sky News what should have been a simple procedure to mend it went badly wrong.

Mr Whittle said the new inspections would be a waste of time and money.

"It (money) should be where it's needed," he said.

"You don't need these inspections. Just give them the money to do what they need to do."

Another NHS hospital patient, Hazel Cameron, agreed.

"We don't need people inspecting what's being done. We just need it being done," she told Sky News.

"I don't know the answers. I'm not political, but I know they've got to improve the quality of nursing care."

Sir Mike said the new ratings system would be rolled out from next January and all hospitals would be assessed by 2015.

Earlier this week, a shocking report revealed that thousands more patients died than would have been expected at 14 hospital trusts, including the 11 put into "special measures".

The review by Professor Sir Bruce Keogh found that none of the hospitals investigated was providing "consistently high-quality care to patients" and all the trusts have been ordered to act on recommendations set out by health officials.

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Cory Monteith: Heroin And Alcohol Killed Star

Glee star Cory Monteith died from a heroin and alcohol overdose, according to a coroner.

The 31-year-old actor was found dead in his hotel room in the Canadian city of Vancouver on Saturday.

Barbara McLintock, from the British Columbia coroner's office, said: "There is no evidence to suggest Mr Monteith's death was anything other than a most sad and tragic accident.

Popular musical comedy Glee first aired in 2009

"The cause of death was a mixed drug toxicity, and it involved heroin primarily and also alcohol."

The findings come after a post-mortem examination and toxicological analysis.

Police said the Canadian actor had been out with other people earlier, but was believed to have been alone when he died.

Fans left flowers outside the Vancouver hotel where Monteith died

He was discovered by hotel staff after he failed to check out on Saturday.

The coroner's office said the investigation into his death was continuing, and no other details were available at this time.

Monteith had talked openly about struggling with addiction since he was a teenager, calling it a serious problem and telling Parade magazine in 2011 he was "lucky to be alive".

Monteith was dating Glee co-star Lea Michele

The star, who played Finn Hudson in the TV show and dated his co-star Lea Michele, admitted himself to rehab in April.

He also received treatment when he was 19.

Monteith and the other Glee actors became high-profile celebrities when the hit musical show made its TV debut in 2009.

The Fox network and the producers of Glee, including 20th Century Fox Television, said Monteith was an exceptional performer "and an even more exceptional person".

Gia Milani, who recently produced and directed a Canadian film featuring Monteith, said the actor "seemed healthy" when she last saw him four weeks ago in Los Angeles.

"He looked super fit and he was energetic and excited," Milani said.

She said Monteith showed no signs of a substance abuse problem while shooting the film a year ago.

16.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

Primary School Pupils May Be Nationally Ranked

Primary schoolchildren will be ranked against their peers across the country under Government proposals.

Eleven-year-olds would sit tests and be put into 10% ability bands, with parents then being updated on their child's ranking.

The move is one of a raft of proposals by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Schools Minister David Laws aimed at raising primary school standards and ensuring youngsters are ready for secondary school.

The ministers also suggest testing five-year-olds on their progress, described as a "simple check of a child's ability in the early weeks of a child's career at school".

Outlining the "ambitious" overhaul of England's primaries, Mr Clegg said national rankings of 11-year-olds will help raise the bar.

Mr Clegg said the bar must be raised for pupils

"Every primary school should strive to make its pupils ready for secondary school by the time they leave," he said.

"All the evidence shows that if you start behind, you stay behind. A better start at secondary school is a better start in life.

"I make no apology for having high ambitions for our pupils.

"But for children to achieve their potential we need to raise the bar - in terms of tests, pass marks and minimum standards."

He told Sky News: "What we're saying is that this is information that will only go to the parents and teachers, it's not going to be published.

"It's so that a parent has a rough idea about how their son or daughter is doing compared to other people in the school system."

But Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), does not agree with ranking 11-year-olds through testing.

"The Government has a fondness for testing young children in the belief that the tests create reliable measures of performance. They don't," he said.

"And, by relying only on what can be measured, they risk missing what matters.

"There is far more to being 'secondary ready' than a score on an hour's test. A teacher's judgement, built up over four years, has much to contribute."

Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), is concerned about children who rank in the lower ability bands.

Children as young as five could be tested on their progress

"I worry what will happen to those children who have tried hard yet are told that they are in one of the bottom bands," he said.

"Children at that age mature differently and their confidence can be easily damaged.

"It could make secondary teachers' job in building self-esteem and confidence even more difficult.

"There are better ways of making it clear to parents and children what they should be achieving at the end of primary school."

Schools also face being labelled as under-performing if they fail to ensure that more pupils reach higher standards in English and maths tests and 11-year-olds will be expected to gain higher results in their national curriculum tests.

Primaries will need to make sure that more of their pupils are reaching these new tougher standards, or face instant Ofsted inspections and being singled out for improvement measures.

The current system requires that children reach Level 4 in English and maths at the end of primary school, with primaries expected to ensure that 65% of their pupils achieve this standard.

They are also measured on the progress they make between ages seven and 11.

The new system proposes that from 2016, schools should have at least 85% of their students reaching the new higher standard.

The plan also contains measures to scrap national curriculum levels and introduce a new scoring system which is used in international tests.

Mr Clegg also announced that primary schools will be given hundreds of pounds more for each poor child to help improve standards among disadvantaged youngsters.

He said the Pupil Premium would rise to £1,300 per eligible primary pupil in 2014/15 compared with £900 this year.

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India: 20 Children Die After Eating School Meal

At least 20 children, aged between eight and 11, have died after eating free meals at a primary school in eastern India.

At least another 35 children remain in hospital in Patna, the Bihar state capital. Ten of the youngsters are in a critical condition. 

They fell ill after eating a lunch of rice and lentils in Masrakh village in the Saran district on Tuesday.

They were rushed to hospital in the capital, some 50 miles (80km) south of the village.

Some of the other sick children were taken to hospital in nearby Chaapra.

Sick children are taken to hospital by ambulance

Sky Producer Neville Lazarus, in New Delhi, said: "Masrakh is in one of the poorest of the poor states in the country and in a remote place, so there weren't proper medical facilities."

The meal was cooked in the school kitchen, and police have seized all the ingredients used.

Lazarus said the cook and her two children had also died.

Bihar's Education Minister P K Shahi said a preliminary investigation suggested the food had traces of phosphorous, which is used to preserve rice and wheat.

"It is sad but true that 20 children died after eating their midday meal, which appears to be poisonous," the minister said.

Free lunches are used as a way of increasing school attendance

Authorities have suspended a food inspector and registered a case of criminal negligence against the head teacher.

The father of an ill child, Raja Yadav, told reporters that his son was vomiting after returning from school.

"As soon as my boy returned from school, we rushed to the hospital with him. His condition was not good," he said.

Bihar state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has also ordered an inquiry, announced that families of the dead children will be offered financial compensation of 200,000 rupees (£2,200).

The 20 children who died were buried near the school on Wednesday morning as angry residents armed with poles and sticks took to the streets in the city of Chhapra to protest against the state government over the children's deaths.

"Hundreds of angry people staged a protest in Saran since late Tuesday night, demanding stern action against government officials responsible for this shocking incident," district government official S K Mall said.

Angry parents take to the streets in protest at the tragedy

Lazarus described the situation as "tense", with locals saying there was a delay in getting medical help to the children, contributing to the high death toll.

Free meals are offered to impoverished students in state-run schools as part of government welfare measures in many of India's 29 states

The lunches are hugely popular with poor families and educators see the meals as a way of increasing school attendance and stemming malnourishment.

But children often suffer from food poisoning due to poor hygiene in school kitchens and the sometimes poor quality food.

More than 130 students were taken to hospital in the western city of Pune last year after eating lunch at school, the Times of India reported.

A probe revealed that the food served to them was contaminated with E. coli bacteria, strains of which can cause food poisoning.

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Susan Taylor: Donations Up After Swimmer Dies

Donations have poured in for a charity swimmer who died while attempting to cross the English Channel.

Susan Taylor, 34, collapsed just one mile from the French coast on Sunday and she was later pronounced dead in hospital.

Mrs Taylor was pulled from the water and on to a support boat by her brother David, a paramedic, who battled to save her.

Her husband, Stephen, was also on board as attempts were made to resuscitate his wife, her family said.

More than 2,000 people have now donated to Mrs Taylor's fundraising page as the current total raised soared to more than £40,000.

She had been attempting to raise money for Rainbows Hospice and Diabetes UK through her Facebook page Create A Ripple Channel Swim.

Comedian David Walliams - who swam the Channel in 2006 - is believed to have pledged £1,000 after a donation was made under his name.

Walliams swam the English Channel in 2006

"Sending all my love to Susan's family and friends," a message from Walliams said on the page. 

The Little Britain star tweeted later: "Despite the shock & sadness, it's good to see heroic Susan Taylor's charity total rising. Please give what you can."

Walliams also tweeted a link to the page, writing: "Susan Taylor's channel swim attempt very sadly ended in tragedy. This is her charity page if you want to donate."

Mrs Taylor had reportedly written in a blog post her ambition to follow in Walliams' footsteps by swimming the Channel.

"I've had an ambition to follow in comedian David Walliams' strokes and swim the Channel since I was a child," she wrote.

The charities which Mrs Taylor was raising money for also paid tribute to her.

Mrs Taylor collapsed a mile from the French coast

Geoff Ellis, chief executive at Rainbows Hospice, described her as a "wonderful woman".

"She has been a much loved ambassador at Rainbows for over two years, helping out at events and tirelessly fundraising for us," he said.

"She was more than an ambassador; she was part of the Rainbows family."

Barbara Young, chief executive at Diabetes UK, said the charity was "extremely sad" to hear of Mrs Taylor's death and offered condolences and support to her family.

Speaking from the family home in Barwell, Leicestershire, Mrs Taylor's father said he was devastated.

"I've lost the best person in the world. She was just wonderful," Arthur Wright said.

The tracker map showing Mrs Taylor's progress stopped near the French coast

Mrs Taylor had given up her full-time job to carry out charitable work and was working part-time as an accountant, her father said.

She had also done wing-walking and a parachute jump, and was a qualified rally driver.

Mr Wright said he had been told the accident happened during the last leg of the swim, which Mrs Taylor had spent 18 months training for.

Supporters who were following Mrs Taylor's progress through a tracker link on her Facebook page began to leave concerned messages when the updates stopped and the boat appeared to travel off course.

Mrs Taylor's crossing was being overseen by the Channel Swimming Association, one of the two official British organisations that authorise the attempts.

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Tameside Hospital Slammed In Death Rate Probe

Staff at a hospital being investigated by the NHS medical director for having a high death rate put targets ahead of patient care, according to a report seen by Sky News.

Tameside General Hospital in Greater Manchester is one of 14 of the worst trusts in England at the centre of a probe spearheaded by Professor Sir Bruce Keogh into hospitals with high mortality rates after the scandal at Stafford Hospital.

Sky's Health Correspondent Thomas Moore obtained a report detailing the findings into Tameside which revealed a series of critical findings into chronic mismanagement and failings in patient care.

The investigation found "insufficient levels of nursing staff", "poor supervision of junior doctors by consultants" and a "lack of compassion" from staff dealing with patient complaints.

There were insufficient critical care beds which meant patients were being treated in the wrong place.

The report also detailed specific examples of poor care including a patient with the superbug Clostridium difficile being admitted to a six-bed bay which immediately put the other five patients at risk of a potentially fatal bacterial infection.

The Health Secretary will make a statement in the Commons today

In another case, a patient was given penicillin despite telling staff that they were allergic to the antibiotic, while members of one family were left to clean up a loved one with faecal incontinence.

On one unannounced visit to the hospital, the most senior surgical doctor was a trainee with just two years' experience.

"The culture appeared to be one of managing targets rather than ensuring overall quality and patient experience," the report said.

"The panel was not convinced that the board has the capability currently to fully address the cultural change required in the trust."

Moore said: "We had heard that perhaps Stafford was a one-off scandal. This (the report) shows that it wasn't."

Tameside is one of 14 trusts with high death rates in the spotlight

The father of a 12-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who died at the hospital on February 7, 2011, told Sky News what an independent specialist told the inquest into his daughter Emma's death.

"She said in her experience, if medical intervention would have happened at an earlier stage, she said Emma would have probably survived," said Michael Stones.

"And this was verified by the coroner in his verdict. So we are put in a situation where we'll never know because of the absolute, disgraceful behaviour of that hospital towards my daughter. An animal gets treated better."

Among the 14 trusts under close scrutiny because of their mortality rates over the last two years are Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, Buckinghamshire Healthcare, Burton Hospitals, Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation, and The Dudley Group.

Others include East Lancashire Hospitals, George Eliot Hospital, Medway NHS Foundation, North Cumbria University Hospitals, Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals, Sherwood Forest Hospitals and United Lincolnshire Hospitals.

Michael Stones' daughter Emma, 12, died at Tameside in 2011

Moore said the findings into each of them - due to be published on Tuesday - would "paint a terrible picture of an NHS that in some areas still isn't able to provide the care and the compassion that patients would expect".

The long-awaited report commissioned by the Government is expected to reveal that up to 13,000 people may have died needlessly in NHS hospitals since 2005.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will deliver a statement to MPs in the House of Commons on the probe.

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Energy Bills 'To Increase By £240 By 2020'

British consumers are forecast to pay £240 more for their annual energy bills within seven years, according to a utility firm report.

RWE npower predicted the average yearly bill - for all energy customers, not just its own - will rise from £1,247 to £1,487 by 2020.

The company believes official forecasts for future energy savings have been too optimistic when it comes to green technology.

It said support for low-carbon technologies would add £82 to the average energy bill by the end of the decade, up from £34 this year, and £12 in 2007.

Support for low-carbon power sources accounts for less than 3% of the average household bill, which will rise to 5.5% in 2020, the company predicted.

The firm's chief executive, Paul Massara, said: "Government policy is rightly delivering the transformation we need to address the UK's poor housing stock and encourage investment required in new infrastructure.

"But achieving these aspirations comes at a cost, and this is what needs to be clearly communicated to consumers."

Greg Barker, minister for energy and climate change, rejected parts of the npower report and said: "Global gas prices, not green policies, have been primarily pushing up energy bills.

Onshore and offshore wind farms have been a key low-carbon strategy

"That is why it is vital we crack on with securing investment in a diverse energy mix that includes renewables and new nuclear, as well as gas.

"We must also continue to drive up the energy efficiency of the nation's housing stock, particularly the homes of the most vulnerable households."

He said Government policies were keeping bills lower than doing nothing, with a typical household saving £65 today and £166 by 2020, compared with if the UK remained reliant on fossil fuels, failed to tackle climate change and did not make homes more efficient.

Meanwhile, energy company profits have risen from £18 on the average dual fuel bill in 2007 to £59 this year, the npower report said.

In 2020, npower predicted profits would rise to £71, staying constant at around 5% of the bill.

The cost of measures to help people save energy and money through greater efficiency, such as insulation, has increased from £17 in 2007 to £69 now and £88 at the end of the decade.

EU directives restrict the life span of conventional coal power stations

Npower said the total cost of Government policy and regulation, which includes general tax on energy and support for vulnerable households, will rise from £185 today to £329 by 2020 on the average bill.

It said total operating costs will rise from £208 now to £241 in the same period.

The wholesale cost of gas and electricity currently makes up 45% of the bill, or £565, but npower said Government data showed gas and electricity will become £50 cheaper by the end of the decade.

A separate report also found that while Britons are prepared to pay for a shift to renewables, they do not trust the Government or power companies to deliver a clean, secure and affordable energy system.

Researcher Dr Catherine Butler said: "If Government or energy companies are saying your bills are going up because of renewables, that isn't necessarily going to be taken on trust."

She added: "There's a real sense of anger about the profit-making nature of energy companies when it's seen as a basic need, not a consumer good."

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Glee's Cory Monteith 'Fantastic' Before Death

Friends and colleagues have expressed shock at the death of Glee star Cory Monteith, who they said seemed fine in recent weeks.

The 31-year-old actor was found dead at Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel in Vancouver just after noon on Saturday.

Adam Shankman, a director on Glee, told CNN: "I had several interactions with him yesterday where he said that he was doing amazing.

Monteith checked into rehab in April

"He even said 'I am feeling fantastic'.

"I'm like everybody else, really devastated and confused by what happened."

The Canadian actor had been dead for several hours when his body was discovered after he failed to check out of his hotel.

There were no signs of foul play and the cause of his death was not clear, British Columbia Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe said.

A post-mortem examination is expected to take place later today.

Monteith's representatives issued a statement saying: "We are in shock and mourning this tragic loss."

The actor had openly talked about struggling with addiction since he was a teenager, saying he had a serious problem and took just "anything and everything". He told Parade magazine in 2011 that he was "lucky to be alive".

In April, Monteith checked himself in to a treatment facility for "substance addiction" and asked for privacy as he took steps toward recovery, a representative said at the time. It was not his first time in rehab. He received treatment when he was 19.

The actor's cousin Richard Monteith at a memorial outside the hotel

Asked whether Monteith had died of a drug overdose, Vancouver Police Department Acting Chief Doug LePard said he would "not discuss anything that we might have found in the room at this time".

Other people were in Monteith's hotel room on Friday night but evidence, including fob key entries, showed he returned to his room by himself early on Saturday and was alone when he died, police said.

Mr LePard said the people who were out with Monteith before he died are being interviewed.

Monteith began his career in a number of small TV and film roles, but the hit musical show Glee was his breakthrough.

His character's on-again-off-again romance with Rachel Berry, played by Lea Michele, was a big part of the show.

Monteith and Michele followed in the footsteps of their Glee characters by dating in real life.

Monteith and Lea Michele in June

They appeared publicly together as recently as last month at a charity ball.

Michele has asked for privacy after receiving the news of her boyfriend's death.

"We ask that everyone kindly respect Lea's privacy during this devastating time," said her representative, Molly Kawachi.

When Monteith entered rehab in April, Michele told People magazine she loved and supported him and was proud he was seeking help.

His cousin Richard Monteith cried at a makeshift memorial outside the hotel where the actor died, while stars, co-workers and fans have been expressing their sadness on Twitter.

Monteith was an avid supporter of Project Limelight, a Vancouver charity that offers a theatre and arts programmes to at-risk youth.

He dined with Project Limelight co-founder Maureen Webb at a Vancouver restaurant just days before his death.

In an interview last year, Monteith credited Ms Webb for suggesting that he enrol in acting classes when he was struggling at 19.

He kept in touch with Ms Webb and made a video to support Project Limelight when the charity was launched last year.

Monteith on stage with Lady Gaga and Glee co-star Jane Lynch in 2010

"I think kids really need a place to go and feel like they belong," Monteith said in the video posted on Project Limelight's website.

"When I was a kid, I struggled a lot with who I was and where my life was going and what I was interested in. And I was fortunate to have the arts inspire me."

A Glee convention taking place near London's Heathrow airport at the weekend turned into a memorial for Monteith after attendees heard of his death.

Organisers of the three-day event changed the final day's schedule so fans could mourn the star together.

Chloe-Louise Bond, a 22-year-old fan from Wakefield, said: "We all woke up to hear the story, and no one really wanted to believe it was true.

"Walking into the main room, you could just feel the tragedy in the air, absolute strangers became a family right in that moment. Everyone was crying and hugging and just trying to get over the shock."

The fans chanted "Cory! Cory! Cory!" and sang in unison tunes such as Don't Stop Believin', the Journey cover crooned by Monteith in the first episode of Glee.

Curt Mega, Telly Leung and other actors who have appeared in the programme led a group discussion with fans about their memories of Monteith. 

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Soldiers Died 'Trying Out For Special Forces'

Police are continuing to investigate the deaths of two serviceman who are thought to have died during a special forces selection process on the hottest day of the year.

A third serviceman is in a serious condition in hospital.

The three were part of a group training in the Brecon Beacons, some of Wales' most rugged terrain, on Saturday when temperatures topped 29.5C (85.1F).

It is understood that the men were taking part in the selection process for the Territorial Army section of the SAS.

Sky News Defence Correspondent Alistair Bunkall said the "very rigorous selection process" would have meant "long yomping walks carrying an awful lot of weight".

With military sources indicating soaring temperatures may have been to blame for their deaths, Bunkall added that the investigation into their deaths was like to focus on the climate and if enough preparations were put in place.

Colonel Richard Kemp, former commander of British troops in Afghanistan, pointed out the difference between the selection processes for the regular Army and the special forces, where the onus is on individual achievement and self-motivation.

He told Sky News: "The Army relies a lot on the buddy-buddy system, in other words of either a commander or fellow soldier looking our for their mates to see if they are exhibiting any symptoms of heat illness. Of course if they are doing SAS selection ... then a lot of that is done as individuals."

The Ministry of Defence and police are both investigating what happened. The soldiers' next of kin have been informed.

The MoD has refused to confirm that the three were members of the TA aspiring to join the reservists' branch of the SAS. And a spokesman said there are no plans to change "routine exercises" in light of the incident.

The Brecon Beacons is one of several locations British military use as part of their training. The deaths occurred near the Storey Arms activity centre.

The area's rugged and sprawling terrain helps prepare soldiers physically and mentally for warfare as well as put their logistic skills to the test, making it an ideal area for elite forces personnel like the SAS.

However the Beacons' jagged topography can prove dangerous even to the most hardened and physically fit.

Earlier this year, an army captain was found dead on a snow-covered Corn Du mountain.

It was thought that Rob Carnegie had been taking part in a gruelling 17-40 mile march in freezing conditions in the Brecon Beacons as part of a selection process for the special forces regiment, when he collapsed and died.

However, this time investigators are examining whether hot temperatures played a major factor.

A source said: "It is a case of the people succumbing to being affected by the training that they were doing."

The Army's website said the Brecon Beacons were used because they are so demanding and prepare soldiers for the "extraordinary things" they have to do on deployment.

The soldiers who died were thought to be trying out for the SAS

The website says: "Training for high-intensity, light-role war fighting is the way soldiers and officers are prepared for any operational situation they may face - conventional war, counter insurgency, security sector reform, peacekeeping or supporting civil authorities.

"This ensures that the training is as close to current operations and pre-deployment training as possible, whilst maintaining the ability to train for high intensity war fighting."

News of the deaths has been met with shock in the nearby town of Brecon, which is home to The Infantry Battle School.

Brecon mayor and Powys county councillor Matthew Dorrance said: "It's incredibly sad for the friends and family of the people who have lost their lives and our thoughts are with the person who is injured.

"In one way we've been blessed with the weather but for people working in this heat, they're tough conditions."

Members of all four of South Wales' mountain rescue teams said they had been called out to assist when the two servicemen died.

Thirty members of Central Beacons, Brecon, Western Beacons and Abergavenny-based Longtown Mountain Rescue Teams joined the operation near Pen y Fan, which is the highest mountain in south Wales.

Mark Moran, from Central Beacons MRT, paid tribute to its members who took part in the rescue operation.

"They are all volunteers, who are highly trained and dedicated" he said.

"We were working alongside military personnel who remained extremely calm and professional during this tragic incident. Our thoughts are now with the families of those involved."

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LA Violence: Zimmerman Verdict Sparks Clashes

Trayvon Martin Killing: Timeline

Updated: 10:07am UK, Monday 15 July 2013

Here are some of the key events in the case of Trayvon Martin, who was shot dead by neighbourhood watch member George Zimmerman in Florida.

2012

February 26 - Police are called to a gated community in Sanford, Florida, lives after 911 calls reporting shots fired. They find unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin has been shot dead. The shooter is George Zimmerman, who lives there.

Days later, police say Mr Zimmerman was "serving in the role of neighbourhood watch". Trayvon was visiting family friends in Sanford and was walking back to their home wearing a hooded top in the rain, after buying Skittles and a soft drink at a nearby store.

March 

Trayvon's father, Tracy, calls for Mr Zimmerman to be arrested for murder. Local anger over the shootings grow and protests begin.

Mr Zimmerman's 911 call, in which he describes Trayvon as "suspicious", is released as Trayvon's family continue calls for an arrest to be made.

Several hundred people take part in a rally calling for charges to be brought against Mr Zimmerman. The State and US Department of Justice announce investigations.

Barack Obama speaks out about the killing, and says if he had a son he would "look like Trayvon". The Rev Jesse Jackson travels to central Florida as calls grow for changes to Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' law.

Mr Zimmerman's brother appears on CNN's Piers Morgan show and says he stands by his brother's story that he was defending himself after being attacked.

April - Mr Zimmerman is arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Mr Zimmerman has a court appearance in which he apologises to Trayvon's parents for their loss.

May - Pictures are released of the injuries Mr Zimmerman suffered at the scene. A video of Mr Zimmerman re-enacting the shooting emerges.

July - The teenager's death was "part of God's plans", Mr Zimmerman says in a lengthy interview.

August - Prosecutors accidentally send a grainy picture of Trayvon's body to news organisations.

November - Mr Zimmerman offers to send "thank you" cards to donors as he steps up fund-raising to cover his defence costs.

December - An image released by Mr Zimmerman's defence team shows him with a bloody, swollen nose on the night he killed Trayvon.

2013

January - Trayvon's mother, Sybrina, calls for a repeal of the 'Stand Your Ground' law. Two months later Mr Zimmerman withdraws from a hearing that could have seen a judge grant him immunity under the self-defence law. His lawyer said Mr Zimmerman wanted "a jury of his peers" to decide the case.

April - A police sergeant accused of bringing targets resembling Trayvon to a gun range is fired.

May - Photos and texts taken from Trayvon's phone are released by Mr Zimmerman's lawyers. A gun and a potted marijuana plant are apparently among the pictures.

June 10 - Jury selection gets under way, with experts saying there will be a struggle to find a six-strong panel that can be open-minded despite the trial's explosive issues of race and gun controls. An all-woman jury is eventually selected.

June 24 - Mr Zimmerman shot Trayvon "because he wanted to", not because he had to, the court hears in the opening statements of the trial. Prosecutors claim he made assumptions about Trayvon because he was black. Mr Zimmerman, who describes himself as Hispanic and faces a possible life sentence if convicted, says it had nothing to do with race. He says the teenager wrestled him to the ground.

June 25 - Trayvon's father leaves the court as images of his son's dead body are shown. The court hears how a police officer made attempts to revive Trayvon at the scene of the shooting.

June 26 - A friend who was on the phone with Trayvon before he was shot tells the court she heard the teen shout "Get off!" before his phone went dead.

July 9 - A defence witness tells the court that Mr Zimmerman's account of how he shot Trayvon is consistent with forensic evidence - that Trayvon was over him, leaning forward, at the time he was shot.

July 11 - Mr Zimmerman's defence attorney, in closing arguments, tells jurors not to make "snap judgements". "He's not guilty of anything but protecting his own life," Mark O'Mara said.

Saturday, July 13 - Mr Zimmerman is acquitted of all charges after the jury deliberated for more than 15 hours. Mr Zimmerman stands impassively as the verdict is read out. Trayvon's parents are not in court.

Sunday, July 14 - Mr Obama appeals for calm as protests build across the country, saying: "We are a nation of laws and a jury has spoken."

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Manchester Shop Blaze: Firefighter Dies

A firefighter has died after being pulled from a major blaze in a shop in the centre of Manchester, the city's fire service says.

Firefighter Stephen Hunt, 38, was part of a team responding to a fire at Paul's Hair World in Oldham Street when he and a colleague got into difficulties last night.

Both were rescued by firefighters and taken to hospital, but Mr Hunt died, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said.

County Fire Officer Steve McGuirk said: "We are devastated by the loss of one of our colleagues who has died in the line of duty.

"We never expect to lose a colleague in this way and it brings home the dangers that our firefighters put themselves in every day to keep the community safe.

Pic: @manchesterfire

"Stephen had been a dedicated firefighter since 2008 and we are all in a state of shock.

"It is a very sad day for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and all our thoughts are with Stephen's family and friends."

He said details of exactly what happened are unclear at this stage but will be investigated. Arson had not been ruled out.

"We have asked our neighbouring Fire and Rescue Services to immediately start an investigation into the incident and circumstances leading to this terrible tragedy," he added.

"We are working alongside Greater Manchester Police to establish the cause of the fire. At this stage arson is not being ruled out.

Pic: @manchesterfire

"(The firefighters) are clearly devastated by the loss of their colleague and I pay tribute to their professionalism, courage and dedication - while in mourning they are continuing to keep the community safe."

The fire began around 2.50pm on Saturday and is still being dealt with.

The second firefighter pulled from the blaze remains in hospital but his injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

The pair got into trouble inside the building at around 8.35pm.

The fire, which started in the store room of the shop, has been particularly difficult  to tackle due to the complex layout of the building and the amount of materials inside, a spokeswoman for the fire service said.

Sky News correspondent Nick Martin said among the materials inside were chemicals commonly used for hairdressing like hydrogen peroxide and aerosols.

Pic: @manchesterfire

The owner and a passer-by had tried to put the fire out but were unable to and both were taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation, she added.

By 4pm yesterday, 12 crews and more than 60 firefighters from stations around the county were tackling the fire which broke through to the first floor.

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Trayvon Martin: George Zimmerman Acquitted

George Zimmerman has been acquitted of all charges over the fatal shooting of black teenager Travyon Martin in Florida.

Mr Zimmerman was freed after the jury deliberated for more than 15 hours over two days in the second-degree murder trial.

The jurors notified the judge on Saturday night, shortly before 10pm local time, that they had reached a decision.

Minutes later the verdict was announced. Mr Zimmerman stood impassively as the verdict was read out.

Supporters of Trayvon Martin outside court after the verdict was reached

The parents of the teenager were not in court for the verdict.

But outside the court supporters of Trayvon reacted with disappointment and anger.

Some chanted and held up a large banner saying "End racial oppression", while others yelled "No" in disbelief at the acquittal.

The six-member, all-woman jury began deliberating at 2.30pm on Friday after spending part of the day listening to the defence team's closing arguments and a rebuttal from the prosecution.

George Zimmerman is congratulated by his defence team

The jurors considered nearly three weeks of often wildly conflicting testimony over who was the aggressor on the rainy night the 17-year-old was shot while walking through the gated townhouse community where he was staying.

Mr Zimmerman's lawyers said the case was classic self-defence, claiming Trayvon knocked Mr Zimmerman down and was slamming the older man's head against the concrete footpath when Mr Zimmerman fired his pistol.

Trayvon Martin was shot dead in a gated community

"We're ecstatic with the results," defence lawyer Mark O'Mara said after the verdict.

"George Zimmerman was never guilty of anything except protecting himself in self-defence."

Another member of his defence team, Don West, said: "I'm glad this jury kept this tragedy from becoming a travesty."

Prosecutors called Mr Zimmerman a liar and portrayed him as a wannabe police officer and vigilante who had grown frustrated by break-ins in his neighbourhood committed primarily by young black men.

The teen's death drew protests in cities across America

They said Mr Zimmerman assumed the teen was up to no good and took the law into his own hands.

The case divided public opinion in the United States, with even President Barack Obama commenting on the shooting. Congressman Bobby Rush wore a "hoodie" in the House of Representatives in support of Trayvon.

Further criticism came from the 44-day delay before Mr Zimmerman was arrested.

Trayvon's father was not in court for the verdict

After hearing the verdict, judge Debra Nelson told the defendant he was free to go and the GPS tracking tag unit would be removed.

"You have no further business with this court," she said.

Mr Zimmerman later hugged his family, and his wife Shellie smiled and cried.

Fearing further social unrest over the controversial shooting, the police chief in Sanford, where Trayvon Martin was shot and where the trial was held, urged peace.

State Attorney Angela Corey said she believed second-degree murder was the appropriate charge because Mr Zimmerman's mindset "fitted the bill of second-degree murder."

"We charged what we believed we could prove," Ms Corey said.

Second-degree murder is classed as a death that does not include specific intent to kill, and the trial centred on the state's controversial self-defence rule of "Stand Your Ground".

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Cory Monteith: Glee Star Found Dead In Hotel

Glee star Cory Monteith has been found dead in a hotel room in Canada, Vancouver Police have confirmed.

The 31-year-old's body was discovered at Vancouver's Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel just after noon on Saturday after he failed to check out.

Police believe he was alone when he died, and have ruled out foul play.

Doug LePard, the acting chief of Vancouver Police, said: "As was the case in countless homes, I watched Glee regularly with my daughters, and I know there will be shock and sadness in many households with the news of his tragic death.

Monteith had reportedly been dating Glee co-star Lea Michele

"Mr Monteith checked into the hotel on July 6 and was due to check out of the room (on Saturday).

"There were others with Mr Monteith in his room earlier ... but video and fob key entries show him returning to his room by himself in the early morning hours and we believe he was alone when he died."

Monteith had voluntarily entered rehab for substance abuse problems in April.

He was best known for playing Finn Hudson in the popular musical comedy series Glee, which follows a group of American secondary school misfits.

Popular musical comedy Glee first aired in 2009

A post-mortem examination will take place on Monday, and the coroner will decide on the next steps to establish the cause of death.

A statement on behalf of Glee's executive producers and 20th Century Fox Television said: "We are deeply saddened by this tragic news.

"Cory was an exceptional talent and an even more exceptional person. He was a true joy to work with and we will all miss him tremendously. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones."

Stars have spoken of their shock at the news.

Dot-Marie Jones, who plays Coach Bieste in Glee, wrote on Twitter: "I have no words! My heart is broken, Cory was not only a hell of a friend, he was one amazing man that I will hold close to my heart forever."

Singer Taylor Swift wrote: "Speechless. And for the worst reason."

Actress Jaimie Alexander added: "Sweet man... Gone far too soon. Peace be with you friend."

Singer Lance Bass said: "Devastated about the news of Cory Monteith - such an incredible guy - my thoughts are with his family and friends."

Meanwhile Zooey Deschanel wrote: "What an absolutely tragic loss of a very talented young man."

More follows...

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